Montpellier, Gloucestershire
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Montpellier is an area of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (England), at the end of the Promenade south of the town centre. Originally developed in the 1830s in conjunction with the spas, it is now known for its bars, cafés, restaurants and range of specialist shops. Montpellier is one of the most expensive areas in Cheltenham to buy property, with apartments ranging from £300,000 to over £1,000,000, townhouses from around £400,000, and houses over £1,000,000 (as of April 2008).
[edit] History
Montpellier Spa was initiated by Henry Thompson after springs were discovered on land he bought in 1801. The Spa buildings of 1817 were by George Allen Underwood. Thompson's son Pearson Thompson extensively developed the area and arranged for supporting entertainment for the spa facilities. He commissioned the distinctive Rotunda by John Buonarotti Papworth as a pump room in 1825. This is now a branch of Lloyds TSB bank. Opposite are Montpellier Gardens, also laid out by Papworth. The architects and developers R W and C Jearrad, took over the running of Montpellier Spa from Thompson in 1830. Montpellier Walk, leading to Montpelier Spa and designed by W.H. Knight in 1840, is noted for the caryatids supporting the shop fronts.
[edit] Commercial activity
Montpellier is home to several clothing boutiques, a couple of jewellers, a Scandinavian specialist shop, a bookshop specializing in cookbooks, and two cook shops. The Post Office and the butchers closed in 2005.
Montpellier bars include The Montpellier Wine Bar [1], The Rotunda Tavern, The Salisbury, O'Neill's and Ha-Ha Bar, with The Circus Bar at the lower end of Montpellier Street. Eating establishments include The Joy (Indian), Armanac (French), Indian Voojan (Indian), and Strada (Italian and Mediterranean).
[edit] References
- David Verey, Gloucestershire: the Vale and the Forest of Dean, The Buildings of England edited by Nicholas Pevsner, 2nd ed (1976) ISBN 0-14-071041-8
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